Harmonising Without Harm: Object-oriented Formulation of FRBR aligned on CIDOC CRM Ontology

1. Harmonising without Harm:towards an object-oriented formulation of FRBR aligned on the CIDOC CRM ontology Maja Žumer (University of Ljubljana) & Patrick Le Bœuf (National Library of France) International Workshop on Semantic Interoperability for e-Research in the Sciences, Arts and Humanities– Imperial College Internet Institute, Imperial College, London 30 March, 2006

2. What is FRBR? • “FRBR” is for “Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records” • Developed 1991-1997 & published 1998 by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) • Maintained by the IFLA FRBR Review Group • Covers “bibliographic records” and “headings” for library materials: “textual, music, cartographic, audio-visual, graphic, three-dimensional materials”

3. What is CIDOC CRM? • “CRM” is for “Conceptual Reference Model” • Developed from 1996 on by ICOM CIDOC (International Council of Museums – International Committee for Documentation) • Maintained by CRM-SIG (Special Interest Group) • About to be validated as ISO 21127 • Builds upon the CIDOC Information Categories • Covers any kind of data (“descriptive” or “authorities”) created by museums in the fields of fine arts, archaeology, natural history…

4. Key concepts of FRBR “Bibliographic records” are about: “Headings” refer to: Concept Work Object Expression Event Place Manifestation Person Item Corporate Body

5. Key concepts of CIDOC CRM • Formal structure of metadata = Appellations (= how we name things) consists of Types (= how we categorise and organise things into controlled lists) Metadata Strings (= free-text notes) Numbers (machine processable) Time Primitives

6. Of what ? Type Key concepts of CIDOC CRM Involving whom? Involving what? • Semantic structure of metadata = ActorAppellation Appellation Actor PhysicalStuff What happened? ConceptualObject Event Time-Span Place TimeAppellation PlaceAppellation When? Where?

7. Some similarities, but no 1:1 overlapping... “Headings” Appellation Item Person Corporate Body Object Work Actor PhysicalStuff Expression ConceptualObject Manifestation Event Concept Event Place Type Place [Notes within] “Bibliographic records” String

8. FRBR/CRM Harmonisation Group • formed 2003 • gathers representatives for & corresponding members of: • the IFLA FRBR Review Group • the CRM Special Interest Group • chaired by Martin Doerr, Institute of Computer Science of the FOundation for Research & Technology Hellas – ICS-FORTH (assisted by Patrick Le Bœuf)

9. Methodology (1) • 6 meetings so far: • Meeting #1: 2003, Nov. 12-14 • Meeting #2: 2004, March 22-25 • Meeting #3: 2005, Feb. 14-16 • Meeting #4: 2005, July 4-6 • Meeting #5: 2005, Nov. 16-18 • Meeting #6: 2006, March 27-29 • Detailed reports have not been made publicly available so far • What we do at those meetings: • ‘translate’ FRBR entities and attributes into an OO model • that OO model borrows as much as possible from the existing structures defined in CIDOC CRM • sometimes it also gives back to CIDOC CRM

10. Methodology (2) • Examine each attribute: • What does it mean? • Is there any implicit assumption about its meaning? • How do non-librarians understand its definition? • How to express the same meaning in a CRM-like structure? • What’s on a librarian’s mind? • Cataloguing processes sometimes important to model too • What’s on an author’s and a publisher’s minds? • Production processes are important to model in order to understand how things happen to be there

11. Methodology (3) • Too many Attributes?  Split the entity! • A given Attribute actually refers to an Event?  Make the Event explicit! • How do cataloguers acquire knowledge about merely “abstract” entities?  Through concrete entities that are deemed to be representative for abstract entities • Taking a user (or use)-centered approach

12. To what purpose harmonise FRBR & CIDOC CRM? • To reach a common view of cultural heritage information (because we share users and types of materials) • To check FRBR’s internal consistency • To enable interoperability and integration (mediation tools, Semantic Web applications…) • For FRBR’s and CIDOC CRM’s mutual benefit (to extend the scope of both)

13. Library catalogue (bibliographic records) in history • Inventory control • Resource discovery

14. Current catalogues • Paris Principles (1961) • ISBD – International Standard Bibliographic Description • (National) cataloguing rules • Card catalogues

15. IFLA commissioned a study which resulted in FRBR • Changes: computer catalogues, union (shared) catalogues, new library materials, new user needs • Cost of cataloguing • Examination of user needs (required functions) • Examination of characteristics of new types of library materials • Effective and efficient

16. (Future) FRBR applications • Better catalogues, more appropriate for the intended users • Use the potential of new technology • Extend the focus from physical to intellectual • Possibility of interoperability with the broader community (e.g. cultural heritage, intellectual property rights ) • Potential of Semantic Web

17. What next? • Group 2, Group 3, FRAR and FRSAR attributes • FRBR, FRAR & FRSAR relationships • Polish the overall picture (some attributes were postponed, some new concepts need clarification) • Check the robustness • Deliverables: scope notes and examples for each class & property, tutorials, explanatory documents… • Prototype applications • Extend the modelling to performing arts